Disappearing shelf assembly for use in an electrical connector applying machine

Abstract

An improved machine for applying electrical connectors to electrically conductive cable, such as multi-conductor flat cable. The machine includes a pair of opposed tool members, each of which include a shelf-like recess for receiving a connector portion. The cable is positioned between the tool members which are advanced toward each other for staking the connector body portion to the cable and receiving the connector cap to the connector body, and thus securing the connector to the cable. In each tool member the shelf-like recess is formed from a shelf which is slidably mounted to the tool member and biased to an outward position. When the shelf engages the cable and other tool member, it retracts and the tool member urges the connector onto the cable. Upon retraction of the tool member, the shelf is biased to its extended position.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A machine for applying an electrical connector to a cable which includes, means for supplying a cable to which a connector is to be applied, means for supplying connector sections, means for receiving connector sections from the supply means and for applying connector sections to a cable, which includes tooling means for receiving a connector section and means for advancing said tooling means toward said cable and retracting said tooling means therefrom; wherein the improvement comprises said tooling means including shelf-like means carried thereon and constructed for movement relative to said tooling means between an extended connector-section receiving position and a retracted connector-section staking position, and there being provided biasing means associated with the tooling means and shelf-like means for urging said shelf-like means toward said extended position. 
     
     
       2. A machine as in claim 1, wherein said tooling means includes a forward edge and said shelf in the extended position is forward of said tooling forward edge and in the retracted position is substantially aligned with said forward edge. 
     
     
       3. A machine as in claim 2, wherein said shelf-like means defines a recess for receiving a connector section which is larger than the connector section for enhancing receipt of the connector section by said shelf-like means. 
     
     
       4. A machine as in claim 1, wherein said tooling means further includes ram means for urging said tooling means toward said cable and retracting said tooling means from the extended position. 
     
     
       5. A machine as in claim 1, wherein said tooling means includes a pair of tool members, each of said tool members carrying a retractable shelf, each of said tool members being extendable toward the cable and the other tooling member and adapted to retract upon engagement with the cable and the other tooling member, and said tool members constructed to urge said connector sections against said cable and into engagement therewith. 
     
     
       6. A machine as in claim 1, wherein said tooling means and said shelf-like means includes means for limiting movement of the shelf means in the extended and retracted directions. 
     
     
       7. A machine as in claim 1, wherein said shelf-like means is removably mounted to the tooling means and there is further provided replacement shelf-like means for accommodating different size connectors, constructed to replace and be interchangeable with said first shelf-like means. 
     
     
       8. A machine for applying an electrical connector to a substantially flat multi-conductor cable, which connector includes a body section and cap section, said machine including a pair of connector feed devices for delivering a connector section to a feed station, means for positioning a cable between the connector feed devices, a pair of opposed tool members, each including shelf-like recess means for receiving one of the connector sections and constructed for extension toward said cable means for securing said connector to said cable, wherein the improvement comprises each of said tool members including means slidably mounted thereto and biased to an extended position toward said cable and other tool member and retractable therefrom upon engagement with said cable and other tool member, so that each tool member acts to urge a connector section into engagement with said cable, and said shelf means defining an enlarged area for accurately receiving and positioning a connector section.